Mohali: India lost three batsmen, including skipper and birthday boy Virat Kohli, as the hosts were struggling at 82 for three at lunch on day one the first cricket Test against South Africa, here today.
Electing to bat on a slow and low PCA wicket, India lost Shikhar Dhawan without a run on board but Murali Vijay (40 batting) and Cheteshwar Pujara (31) steadied the boat with a 63-run stand only to see the bowlers strike back.
Giving Vijay company was Ajinkya Rahane (3).
Vernon Philander drew the first blood with a moving delivery which Dhawan slashed, managed an edge, and the cherry flew into the waiting hands of Hashim Amla at first slip.
Dhawan though would have been disappointed with his blob on a ground where he scored his debut hundred in 2013 - a fantastic 187 against Australia.
Pace spearhead Dale Steyn kept up the pressure from other end as the batsmen found hard to score freely even as Pujara and Vijay squeezed in a few boundaries.
But the drama unfolded after the drinks break when India saw two quick wickets fall in the space of four deliveries to give away the advantage to the visitors.
The introduction of part-time spinner Dean Elgar proved to be an intelligent move as the left-arm slow bowler trapped Pujara LBW for 31.
Kohli (1) then walked out to the center amidst loud cheers from the sparse crowd gathered at the stadium but his stay lasted for just four balls.
Debutant pacer Kagiso Rabada got the prized wicket of Kohli after the star batsman tried to check his shot off a length delivery and the leading edge went to Elgar, who completed a good low diving catch at cover.
The delight in the opposition camp was palpable as Amla kept on rotating the bowlers in his effort to make more inroads.
But Vijay, whose 80-ball stay so far has been laced with six fours, has mixed the right dose of caution and aggression to give some respect to the hosts 'innings so far.
Earlier in the day, Pujara got the first runs for the team off an assured straight drive that went for a four past the mid-off fielder against Philander.
There were quite a few balls that stayed low and the batsmen did well to bring their bat down just in time.
The first hour also saw a couple of good appeals from the opposition bowlers. Off-spinner Simon Harmer's LBW shout against Vijay just a ball before the first drinks break did give the Indian dressing room jitters but it was turned down by the umpire.
